Thailand THE ARMED FORCES
Royal Thai Army troops inspecting shipment of United
States military equipment in 1954
Courtesy National Archives
Royal Thai Army Commander in Chief General Chaovalit
Yongchaiyut
Courtesy Voice of America
Former Prime Minister (1977-80) Kriangsak Chomanand
Courtesy Royal Thai Embassy
Unavailable
Figure 15. High Command of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, 1987.
Unavailable
Figure 16. Field Command of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, 1987.
Unavailable
Figure 17. Major Thai Military Installations, 1987.
Unavailable
Figure 18. Officer Rank Insignia, 1987.
Unavailable
Figure 19. Enlisted Rank Insignia, 1987.
The Thai military establishment historically has played an
important role in the country's national life. Composed of
heterogeneous elements of regular cadres and conscripts, the
armed forces in mid-1987 had a total strength of approximately
273,000 officers and enlisted personnel on active duty. Component
services included the Royal Thai Army of 190,000, the Royal Thai
Navy of 40,000, and the Royal Thai Air Force of 43,000. The
navy's personnel strength included 20,000
marines.
The military's reputation as the center of political power
manifested itself in nearly a score of coups and countercoups
between 1932 and 1987. Over the years, its role as a political
instrument had detracted from its abilities as a professional
military force. Doubts about the state of combat readiness had
been expressed by some members of the Thai officer corps as well
as by foreign military observers. By the 1980s, the military had
acted to increase the professionalism of its personnel--
particularly the officer corps--and to modernize its units and
weaponry.
Data as of September 1987
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